APR

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2019

NGALAYNGMANG

ContentsNew partnership boosts employment and training ................2

Message from the chair ...................3

Jawoyn Contracting: Building our Country................................................5

Rangers News ....................................6 Protecting the Stone Country On country at Jalarrworrporr

Nitmiluk News ...................................8 Preparing the park for visitors

Nitmiluk Tours ....................................9 Taste of the Territory Ghan for lunch

Barunga Festival ............................. 10

Bringing Bolung home .................. 11

Wedding of the year ...................... 12

Nitmiluk Festival celebrates 30 years of sharingThe 30th anniversary of the handback of Nitmiluk National Park to Jawoyn traditional owners will be celebrated in a festival of events to be held in September.

The Nitmiluk Festival will run from 6-15 September and feature an exhibition, a concert at Nitmiluk gorge, a family fun day at Leliyn (Edith Falls), Katherine Bird Week and gourmet food and wine events at the award-winning Cicada Lodge.

It will culminate in a day at the gorge with

community markets held during the day and a screening of the films Top End Wedding and Jedda that evening.

The variety of events on offer during the week are scheduled around official anniversary celebrations to be held at Nitmiluk on Tuesday 10 September.

Jawoyn board chairperson Lisa Mumbin says it’s an important celebration of the anniversary, the region and its diverse community.

TO TALK TOGETHER - SHARING OUR STORY

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The Federal Government funded program is aimed at increasing employment opportunities for Indigenous people on welfare.

The new partnership called Nyirrunggulung-Rise, which means working together, began delivering the program to communities of Beswick, Barunga and Manyallaluk on July 1.

Jawoyn Association board chairperson Lisa Mumbin said the partnership’s strategy puts Indigenous people and communities at the heart of its operations.

“As a major economic player, employer and representative of Indigenous people in the region, we understand community needs,” Ms Mumbin said.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with experienced provider RISE to ensure CDP will be culturally appropriate and focused on meeting local needs.”

RISE chief executive officer Michael Hobday said RISE will continue to work

with individuals, communities and local employers to get more people into jobs and build stronger communities.

“Our goal is to deliver better opportunities for remote job-seekers and foster stronger economic and social outcomes for people living in remote Australia,” Mr Hobday said.

“We expect to have an active caseload of over 400 participants in the next 12 months and will be looking to ensure young people are particularly supported through the program so they have access to training and sustainable employment.”

Jawoyn Association chief executive officer John Berto says the region has important sectors the partnership can target to improve employment outcomes for Indigenous people.

“The Katherine and Arnhem region offers a number of tourist destinations, including Nitmiluk National Park, Cutta Cutta caves and Mataranka Springs, which make for a thriving local tourist

industry” Mr Berto said.

“In addition to tourism, the region is home to significant operations across land management, pastoral, defence and construction, all of which can offer employment and training for our people.

“We look forward to exploring these opportunities under Nyirrunggulung-Rise.”

Message from the chair: Lisa Mumbin

The last few months marks a new era for the Jawoyn Association, where we celebrate the past and look forward to a bright future of new opportunity.Importantly, we are preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the handback of Nitmiluk. The celebrations go beyond the one special day we officially had our land handed back. We have partnered with groups from across the Katherine region, as well as the Territory and Federal governments to create a 10-day festival that celebrates Nitmiluk as a place that unites us all. The association has invested in making this a celebration for everyone - for Jawoyn people and the wider community to enjoy and we look forward to celebrating with everyone.We have also assumed responsibility for managing the Community Development Program in Barunga, Beswick and Manyallaluk in a new partnership with RISE. Nyirrunggulung-Rise began delivering services in early July.Importantly, the launch of Jawoyn Contracting marked our strategic move into the building and construction industry. We want to play a key role in building our country and employing a strong Indigenous workforce to create more opportunities for Jawoyn and Aboriginal people living on Jawoyn lands.Jawoyn has also renewed its focus on the Banatjarl Women’s Group with the creation of a fulltime coordinator position we hope to be filled as soon as possible. There is much to celebrate and talk about.

The Jawoyn Association and RISE Ventures have joined forces to deliver the Community Development Program (CDP) and boost employment and training in the central Arnhem region.

New partnership to boost employment and training in central Arnhem

“This year on 10 September, Jawoyn people celebrate a milestone in their modern history - 30 years since we were recognised as the traditional owners of Nitmiluk,” Ms Mumbin said.

“The anniversary and Jawoyn’s partnership with the Northern Territory Government offers a significant occasion for all our community to reflect on the great successes we’ve had together.

“It’s a celebration of what can be achieved through collaboration and reconciliation.

“In this spirit, groups and organisations from across the Katherine region have united to create a festival that celebrates Nitmiluk, our region and community.”

Nitmiluk National Park’s natural and cultural wonders make it a shining jewel in the crown of the Northern Territory and a source of great pride for the Katherine region.

The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Culture Lauren Moss says it's one of the most spectacular and treasured places in the Northern Territory and the country.

“More and more people are attracted to this special place each year,” Minister Moss said.

“Nitmiluk has always been Jawoyn country; the Government is pleased to

be part of celebrations for such an important milestone, recognising 30 years since this land was handed back to its traditional owners.

“We are also proud to partner with Jawoyn to jointly manage this incredible asset.

“We acknowledge and thank the Jawoyn people for their generosity in sharing their country with visitors from around the world, who all leave enriched by the experience.

The Government has invested $15 million n the Park this term, including the new Visitor Centre.

“Other upgrades underway will enhance the visitor experience even further,” Minister moss added.

“The Nitmiluk Festival promises to be a wonderful celebration of this beautiful part of the world and of Jawoyn culture.”

Visit the website for the full program and the latest information: www.nitmilukfestival.com.au

You can also connect with the festival on social media.

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Jawoyn Contracting established its office and opened its doors to the business community in July.

The company’s director John Berto says the idea to move into the industry came from a growing need to manage building and construction work on Jawoyn country.

“We’d been managing infrastructure projects and civil works with the Jawoyn Rangers,” Mr Berto said.

“It became obvious there was an important opportunity in growing a dedicated workforce and applying for public and private contracts, especially those on Jawoyn lands.

“Importantly, as advocates for Aboriginal people working to build our country, we believe it‘s important to invest in Indigenous employment and training and provide opportunities to Aboriginal people living on Jawoyn lands.”

The company has invested significant resources in its team and purchased equipment, including graders, excavators, bobcats and tip trucks.

“The investment is already paying off and we’ve completed a number of projects at Nitmiluk National Park, on Northern Territory Government and Roper Gulf Regional Council housing,” Mr Berto said.

“Our parent company the Jawoyn Association has proven itself as a serious player in tourism, land management and social support services – and we’re now turning our focus to building and construction.

“Jawoyn has forged a Multi Agency Partnership with the Northern Territory and Australian Governments and the Roper Gulf Regional Council to strengthen relationships, align local priorities and pursue social and economic opportunities.

“We’ve got a strong workforce ready for hire and we’re open for business to build across the region, the Top End and beyond.”

New building and construction company Jawoyn Contracting has launched with a focus on building Jawoyn country and boosting Indigenous employment.

Jawoyn Contracting: Building our Country

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Rangers News

In past decades, the West Arnhem and Kakadu region has been damaged through destructive wildfires, the spread of weeds and the presence of feral animals, particularly buffalo.

Jawoyn Rangers are working with Kakadu National Park rangers, other Indigenous ranger groups and custodians in a long term five-year project designed to address the

The sandstone heath in Arnhem Land’s stone country is a fragile environment that needs sustained attention.

Protecting the Stone Country

environmental and cultural damage across the plateau.

The project, which began last year, is overseen by Territory Natural Resource Management and funded through the Federal Government’s Landcare program.

A planning workshop identified priorities for fire management in the stone country, including matching time spent aerial burning with ground burns to target sensitive habitat, to identify priority sites suitable for long-term protection and scientific research, and to build the capacity of traditional owners to conduct fine-scale burning.

In May, the groups came together at a fire management camp at Jeywunaye (Sleizbeck) on the upper Katherine river.

The camp, held from May 13-17, involved more than 40

traditional owners and rangers from Kakadu, Jawoyn and Mangarrayi country as well as scientists and environment managers.

The rangers conducted extensive ground and aerial burning, used the chopper to access remote sites to walk burn lines and used vehicles to improve tracks used for fire management.

There was a sharing ideas between the rangers, traditional owners and scientists around what good fire and healthy heath looks like.

Scientists worked with the group on species composition and monitoring techniques at sandstone heath and existing monitored sites.

During the evening, a 'show and tell' was held to share stories and project maps and photos of the day’s activities.

Jawoyn rangers, traditional owners and elder Gary Manbulloo visited Jarlarrworrporr in mid May to spend time on country, conduct early dry season burning and visit cultural sites.

Supporting Jawoyn people to reconnect with country and engage with activities on their traditional lands is an important part of Jawoyn Association’s work.

Jarlarrworrporr, also known as Centipede Dreaming, is part of the Kaynjalarr traditional lands of elder Gary Manbulloo and his family.

Rangers and casuals set up a camp near Djigamun creek and cleared an area for a helipad so hard to reach sites could be visited by air.

It was a busy time. Jawoyn Rangers and the traditional owners conducted

burning on country, elder Gary Manbulloo took young people to rock art sites, and rangers, casual workers and TOs renewed roads with vehicles and a buggy.

Firestick’s Ben Lewis assisted the group and helped the team to use a hand-held tablet on the old road to country. The road to Jarlarrworrpurr is now easier to find after it was aerial burned by helicopter.

The group involved Mr Manbulloo and ten traditional owners and some were really happy because they were seeing their country for the first time.

They said they really appreciate the chance to return to country and that it was important to have elders out on country to teach them and to guide where they should burn.

ON COUNTRY AT JARLARRWORRPORRBy Sylvia Maroney

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The Jawoyn Association Annual General Meeting will be held this year in November.If you are eligible and interested in becoming a Jawoyn member, then its time to register.All applictions must be submitted and approved at least 21 days prior to the AGM being called.To become a member, you must be 18 and over and living on Jawoyn lands.A membership application can be downloaded from the Jawoyn website, ORIC or you can go into the office and fill one out.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

Preparing the park for visitors

Nitmiluk National Park rangers have been busy preparing the park for visitors for the dry season.

More than 270,000 people visit Nitmiluk every year, with the majority visiting during the Top End dry season.

Acting chief ranger for the savannah gulf region Phill Cowan said it’s the busiest time of year.

“Once the temperatures cool, the humidity drops and the dry season winds come in, visitors numbers increase substantially,” Mr Cowan said.

“It’s vital we get the park ready and make it as safe and as enjoyable as possible.”

The park rangers have focused efforts on crocodile surveys and walking trail maintenance.

Mr Cowan said it’s a major priority to make sure the waters are clear of saltwater (estuarine) crocodiles.

“People love to swim in

the park or paddle a canoe along the gorge, but before our rivers and waterways are open to the public, we undertake a month long survey to monitor for the presence of salties,” Mr Cowan said.

“As anyone living or visiting the Top End, they're a dangerous predator.

“Salties come into the gorge with the wet season waters every year and so we make sure they are all gone before people can start swimming or boating on the water.

“Surveying includes intensive spotlighting in the first three gorges on the water.

“We also conduct helicopter surveys, flying at low altitude to look for crocodiles.”

The rangers set a second trap in the first gorge and placed a number of floats in the river to monitor for bite marks.

"There were no sign or sightings of saltwater crocs during the intensive survey or after,“ Mr Cowan said.

“So we were able to clear the second gorge and gorges upstream and opened them up for swimming and canoeing.”

The Jatbula Trail and the Southern Walks were also reopened.

“Rangers were busy clearing the walking tracks,” Mr Cowan said.

“We also installed new track markers to help guide walkers,” Mr Cowan said.

Park rangers continue to work closely with the Jawoyn Rangers on a large program of ground-based burning around the key visitor areas.

“The Nitmiluk carbon fire project is vital in protecting visitors and park

infrastructure from the damaging late dry season wildfires,” Mr Cowan said.

“It also provides an income stream through the carbon abatement program.

“Parks and Jawoyn rangers have carried out a number of aerial burning runs and are confident that the majority of the wet season and early dry season burning is now complete.”

Nitimiluk National Park and the Jawoyn Association and staff also meet to review the joint work and discuss the progress.

“We will meet again later in the year for another progress review, but for now we are ready for everyone to enjoy what Nitmiluk has to offer during our beautiful dry season.”

A journey on the Ghan is without question, an iconic Australian experience - and those who travel all the way to Darwin have the opportunity to include Nitmiluk in that experience when they stop-off in Katherine.

Nitmiluk Tours has been sharing Jawoyn country with Ghan travellers for several years now and its dedicated river and cultural teams have begun to offer special lunches on the lawns.

This unique Nitmiluk dining experience is complemented by cultural activities including sharing stories and basket weaving.

The Ghan lunches take place on Fridays and are a popular way for visitors and staff to punctuate the end of the week.

Ghan for Lunch

Arguably the largest foodie event on the Northern Territory calendar, the Territory Taste festival was held in May at the Darwin Ship Terminal and Fort Hill Wharf, offering uninterrupted views of beautiful Darwin harbour.

Cicada Lodge restaurant, named Australia's best restaurant and catering service at last year's national tourism awards, upheld its unique style and flavour, offering bush-inspired delicacies carefully conceived by executive chef Adam Woods and his award-winning team.

The foodie festival was a great opportunity for Nitmiluk Tours to expose some of its team to an event of this scale and to learn different ways to offer products to the general public in a busy, festival environment.

Taste of the Territory

Nitmiluk News Nitmiluk Tours

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In the Community

The music, sports and cultural festival attracted thousands of visitors to the Jawoyn community of Barunga in June.

Under the shade on the main oval, about 25 Banatjarl ladies delivered a busy program of bush medicine and weaving workshops and ran a bush peanut cracking kids corner.

Dorothy Bienuwanga, Marileen Dulman, Dianna Bruce, Kay Namuadja and Nicole Nabaralmarl taught more than 60 people how to weave, while Chiyo Andrews, Rosemary Carey and Betty Berry showed a similar number how to make bush medicine.

The Jawoyn team also cooked up a storm, with Majella Friel, Jocelyn MaCartney, Josephine and Melva Brinjin, Revina, Danikka and Whitney helping to fill festival-goers bellies with damper and billy tea while the Jawoyn Rangers cooked traditional tucker in a bush oven, attracting huge crowds.

A stack of bush medicine tonics and teas, baskets, necklaces and books were also sold at the stall - helping to raise funds for future activities.

BARUNGA FESTIVAL Keeping tradition alive, the Banatjarl women and Jawoyn Rangers delivered cultural activities and food at this year's festival.

Nitmiluk Festival FEATURE

Bringing Bolung home

The painted image of Bolung became the symbol of Jawoyn people’s connection to their traditional lands in their historic land claim over Nitmiluk and surrounding area.

When Jawoyn won their land back in 1989, the painting marked celebrations at the park (pictured above) and it became the symbol for the Jawoyn Association and its tourism enterprise in the gorge, Nitmiluk Tours.

Following the handback, the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory was asked to look after the painting for Jawoyn.

Former Jawoyn Association adviser Chips Mackinolty said a series of unfortunate events

lead many to believe the painting had been lost forever.

“I purchased the painting from Marnakolorlo before the handback, but following celebrations we decided to ask the museum to hold it for safekeeping," Mr Mackinolty said.

"However, a number of collections the museum was also holding for safekeeping were returned to a Katherine community art centre in the '90s.

“The 1998 Katherine flood hit soon after the collections were returned to the town and they were either destroyed or lost in the floodwaters.

"We thought the painting may

have suffered the same fate.”

A chance discussion lead the Jawoyn Association to make some enquiries and the painting was found safely in a drawer in the museum’s Aboriginal stores.

Jawoyn Association board chairperson Lisa Mumbin said she felt emotional when she heard the painting had been found.

"Marnakolorlo was not only a known artist, she was the key witness in the Jawoyn land claim - many called her Jawoyn

Queen," Ms Mumbin said.

"She was a strong culture woman with a lot of knowledge and her painting had a lot of meaning for us.

“We’re so happy that after 30 years since we saw it at the celebrations of the handback, everyone will be able to see it again.”

The painting will return home for the Nitmiluk Festival exhibition Sharing Country at Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre on Friday September 6.

More than 30 years ago, Jawoyn artist Marnakolorlo Alice Mitchell used ochre paint on a sheet of masonite board to tell the story of Nitmiluk and the rainbow serpent Bolung.

Phyllis Wiynjorrotj, Sarah Andrews and Marnakolorlo during the Katherine land claim. Photo courtesy R. Blowes.

Wedding of the year puts Nitmiluk on the silver screen

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Top End Wedding was released in cinemas across Australia on May 2 and made $1 million at the box office in its opening weekend, with Palmerston topping the list of ticket sales.

Part of the film's winning formula is the stunning scenery at the places it visits across the Northern Territory, from Darwin to the Tiwi Islands, Kakadu and our very own Nitmiluk gorge.

In 2018, the cast and crew spent a week in Katherine and filmed a series of scenes at Nitmiluk.

For those who've visited Nitmiluk, you'll

be able to recognise the campground, the boat jetty and, of course, the gorge

Viewers may even recognise some familiar faces, with a handful of Nitmiluk staff and Katherine locals included as extras in the film.

In mid May, Nitmiluk hosted a sold out screening of Top End Wedding on the lawns of the Nitmiluk jetty as part of the Northern Territory Traveling Film Festival.

We're thrilled it will be returning for the Nitmiluk Festival. Hope to see you there!

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Top End Wedding is a movie many Australian’s have been waiting for – it's a rom-com that travels to places Australian cinema rarely visits - geographically and culturally.